#gta online protagonist

[ever-animatezzz]

Woke got to Online 😱😱😱

[asdear]

A quick moodboard I made for my precious Grace. I feel like she deserved one. 🫣

Honestly, for throwing this together in just 15-20 minutes or so, I think this one turned out really good. 😄

Image sources:

Top: https://pin.it/794L2oQdw, https://pin.it/4Cao7bXBq, https://pin.it/22FHNa7ac

Middle: https://pin.it/3WzW7tAof, https://pin.it/2VKYdHJiX, https://pin.it/5KNRCyaFX

Bottom: https://pin.it/6b4wMYTKH, https://pin.it/3fMHtZVWJ, https://pin.it/5QqeFEJNK

[starksinner]

Why Didn't You Stop Me?

Summary: You left and you horribly wish he would’ve forced you to stay.

Pairing: Trevor Philips x AFAB!Reader, Franklin Clinton x AFAB!Reader

Warnings: Smut, Sexual Content, Possessiveness, Fuckbuddies, Unhealthy Relationship, Average GTA Stuff

November 16th, 2017.

It was easy to regret not catching a ride back to Los Santos with Franklin in his sexy white Bravado Buffalo S. 

Regret is easy, regret you know. Regret can grow and grow it does as you make eye contact with the hillbilly jacking off next to the icebox in front of the Yellow Jack Inn. 

After a couple of days gallivanting around the desert shit-pile that was Sandy Shores, Franklin deemed that your weed-fuelled, fuck-filled adventures had reached a necessary end.

Despite his intriguing offers of more shenanigans and freaky sex once you both got back home, you weren’t all that keen on leaving the town of meth production and Republican rednecks just yet. 

“M’gonna go see him,” you sighed, resting your head back against the stained motel pillow. 

Moments before, as Franklin had fucked you raw into the cheap motel mattress, you were met with the smell of blood and piss and cum as your face was shoved into the shitty cushion.

Despite the abysmal scent, the man was taking you so good and so fuckin’ hard, you couldn’t force yourself to care. 

Now though, as you laid sated in your post-climax glow of sweat and semen, the smell against your cheek served as an unignorable reminder of your still bleeding heart. 

That man, that asshole, that meth-head-Trevor-Philips-piece-of-fucking-shit—goddamnit.

You still hopelessly, stupidly, selfishly loved him. The fucked kind of love.

Always caked in blood, smelling like piss after running off to get high and grinning like an evil bitch as he came all over your chin and tits. The smell of the Derelict Motel—the sheets, the pillow, the musty air—was all just a nauseating reminder of how much you missed him. 

Your therapist was gonna kill you. 

“You know that ain’t a good idea,” Franklin murmured, running his thumb over the plushness of your bottom lip.

Your eyes met his and you couldn’t help but shiver at the way he looked at you, his gaze so soft and so full of adoration. 

He made you feel like you weren't just a burning shitpile of flesh, bones, and substance abuse issues.

Frank is a good friend, a great man, a nice fuck. He was always there to bring you back down to Earth. He was so easy to love and you sure as shit loved him a whole lot. Beautiful fuckin’ man. “He ain’t right in the head about you.”

“We both know he ain’t right the head about nothin’,” you argued, leaning your body over his. Beautiful man.

“And he’s a big boy. He can take it. Whatever I wanna throw at him.” Your legs quickly became tangled, Frank’s hands resting over your hips as you smiled and played with his chest hair. “He can fuck all the people he wants, but I can’t touch or look or fuckin' breathe around anyone but him? He’s a fuckin’ ass.”

“He fell for you, girl. T’s always been crazy an’ possessive, his shit ain’t nothin’ new.” Franklin snuggled your body closer to his, sighing softly as he pressed his face into the warm crevice of your neck. 

He couldn’t control himself, not when he had you like this. You were so hot and so sweet and just so fucking delicious. 

Shit. 

His lips lingered over the sensitive spot at the base of your throat, his tongue reaching out to tease a fading bruise. He did that. He made that. He marked you. 

Fuck.

He groaned as you gave him easier access by raising your chin, letting him worship you like the real fuckin’ princess he always thought you were.

“He was fuckin’ paranoid and possessive in all the worst fuckin’ ways, Frank. I fuckin’ hate him for how he acted when I said I was leavin’ but I still...miss him.” You hummed softly as you felt Franklin’s lips suck right over your pulse point, his teeth just brushing over your delicate skin.

You held down the urge to beg him to bite you.

“Yeah, you miss him, but ain’t nothin’ gonna be solved if you both end up killin’ each other...or fuckin’ each other,” Frank breathed roughly against the shell of your ear as his hand wandered across your stomach and down to your aching clit. 

He immediately preened at your wetness and teased the bundle of nerves with soft, circular motions. You gasped as you felt his cock harden and twitch against your thigh, begging for your pretty fucking attention.

He grinned and quickly shoved a finger into your cunt, making you moan and writhe oh so beautifully against him. “Jus’ come back home with me, baby…”

You could barely solidify your thoughts, whimpering like you were.

His motions were so smooth and perfect and rhythmic. Frank was good at a lot of things, but you considered his talent of fucking you mindless as one of his top three.

You immediately felt your wetness start to leak down your thighs. “If he still isn’t over it...I’ll fuck off, hitch a ride, meet you back at your place…yeah?”

“Yeah, baby,” he gripped your throat just how you like and shoved another finger into you, leaving you mewling and squirming in his grasp. You reached for him, hard and thick in your palm, and squeezed. 

The best girl.

If you were parting ways, Franklin was gonna have you one last time. He understood Trevor’s possessiveness. You were great company, a great fuck, a great woman.

Addicting, hell blazing, heavenly—you were everything. So fuck yeah, he was gonna have you as many times as he possibly could. “Lemme take care of you, babygirl, then you’ll be all good to go.”

The Yellow Jack Inn has never been known for its posh customers or regular demonstrations of human decency, but a man jacking it in front of such a fine all-American establishment is still a sight you couldn’t have properly braced yourself for.

As the ash of your blunt falls to the dirt, your eyes stay transfixed on the man by the icebox as he lets out a disturbing howl and drops to the ground.

His pants are stained, his dick disgusting and soft. He lets out a series of groans as he turns to lie flat on his stomach, his cock scraping against the sand.  

Jesus H. Christ. What a charmer. 

You manage to twist away from the scene in repugnance and perhaps a more sinister part of you in mild delight, settling yourself in the alley next to the bar.

You restlessly attempt to calm yourself against the brick, picking at its shoddy green paint job before you begin rolling another blunt. 

You’re stalling. Like a little bitch. It's embarrassing how much a man can turn you into such a conniving fickle coward. Perhaps not just any man. Your paranoid fuckin’ shitshow of a somewhat ex-lover. 

Embarrassing. Unbecoming. Completely mindfucked. 

You know Trevor’s inside. He’s an enigma, a loud, idiot one at that. Over the noise of clanked bottles and shitty laughter, you can hear him.

Stupid, how much of him you can hear. And see. And smell. And understand. In everything and anywhere and with anyone. He never leaves you even when he’s left you. He never leaves you even when you've left him. He’s a parasite that you’ve coddled, and cared for, and loved and fucked. 

The timber of his voice warms you in a special, fucked up kind of way. It’s familiar and it’s settling and it kills you to know that he’s spent fourteen months ridding you of it. Of him. His clinical insanity has rubbed off on you beautifully. You left and you horribly wish he would’ve forced you to stay. 

God.

Would he kill you? Kiss you? Fuck you? You’re still stalling.

Maybe all three?

Being the oil to a homicidal cannibal’s match, you could never really know what the fuck you were gonna get. You anticipate an explosion, but you’re clueless to its degree. 

You pocket your blunt, walk over the man with his dick in the sand, and open the door to the biggest health hazard in California. 

Chapter 2

a/n: found this oldie from 2021 that i was in the mood to refresh & post! i haven't written in literal years, be nice to me! also, happy ten years to this stupid fucking game. i love u. i feel old (i'm not) and i'm tired (constantly) and i hope you enjoyed (lie to me if you didn't) :3

✧ masterlist ✧ ao3 ✧ send me an ask / let's chat! ✧

[adam-trademark]

Savestra

(March 31, 2022)

[huh-huhyourself]

should set my spawn location in agency more often lol

[stalwartdove]

GTA Online got me in a chokehold like Fallout does.

[sleepysloth99]

Your Favorite Martian Headcanons, pt 2 of ?

This time, I'm doing it with Gen 2.

Puff Puff

He's going into therapy now. Gen 1.5 him was an asshole and now he's trying to improve.

He's in a huge situationship with Tig, trying to be better for her, but he kinda doesn't know how.

Despite his job as a waiter, it is better pay than his previous job.

Puff Puff lives with his grandma after she left the nursing home back in 1.5, but he lives there half-time. He leaves when he's either on tour with the guys or if he vanishes since he tends to do that sometimes. He always comes back, though. Surprisingly, he is very protective of his Meemaw.

He's made amends with people he's messed things up with. Him and Deejayne aren't friends but are on civil terms now.

He eventually got back in touch with Wilton (Nerdy dude from gen 1.5) and they talk a lot.

Deejay

Him and Deejayne are still very close! They facetime very often, and Deejayne invites him over during the holidays.

He uses online therapy since it's more in his budget, and he definitely finds YFM to be a therapeutic outlet.

His change of voice was because he got vocal lessons from Puff Puff and Benatar.

He got back in touch with estranged family.

Over the years since gen 1.5, Deejay is no longer the "voice of reason" since the guys all matured more and now the role of being the voice of reason is a little more evenly distributed among the 4 members.

He's still in charge of paying Netflix, though.

Axel

He decided to get buff since constant and structured movements helped him focus on his songs and calmed him down.

He's got folks somewhere, he doesn't know where. But he does know that his number one family is in an RV.

Both him and Puff Puff stopped being too mean to Benatar after he openly expressed a dislike for it.

Over the years, the guys have gotten closer as the four of them matured and understood the need to be more deeply connected in order to be a stronger band. As a result, Axel is more open to talking about how he feels now and encourages his bandmates to do the same.

He's still crummy with emotions, but he tries. He mostly uses the drums to convey his feelings.

He's getting treatment for his herpes back in gen 1.5. He's a lot more responsible with sex now.

Benatar

He actually became more assertive over the years. He's still polite, but he doesn't let anyone disrespect him anymore.

He teaches Axel English work and literary analysis since Axel was unable to finish high school.

He was initially picked on because he was the odd one out in terms of lifestyle. The other three were poor and had physically abusive parental figures in their lives. Benatar had a nice house and was well off, but his mother was emotionally, verbally, and mentally abusive, and his father was around but he wasn't emotionally available for Benatar and would frequently parentify him. This explains his passive and quiet demeanor in the past generations of Your Favorite Martian.

He plays GTA 5 and stops at the redlights, acts nice to everyone, but gets headshots every mission, gold every mission, and he stalks pedestrians at night. Don't worry, he stalks all genders of NPCs at night. He's also terrifyingly good at escaping the cops.

He had Puff Puff sing "Real Girl" for him because he's still too shy to sing a whole song by himself. He hasn't done that since "Jupiter."

In the world where Your Favorite Martian takes place, humans in the human world are presented as works of fiction. In our world, Your Favorite Martian is a cartoon band. In the world of Your Favorite, however, humans are works of fiction. We come in the form of movies, books, and other sources of media. Each person in the world is a work of fiction of some sort. With all that said, Benatar wrote "Real Girl" because of his "fictional" crush on a girl from a movie he watched. The movie was about the girl as the protagonist and her life as a young woman navigating the world of womanhood. Benatar made this song because he knew that the screen was a barrier separating two worlds, hence why he called her a "Real Girl" even though in his world, she is a fictional character.

[bourbonificould]

season 4 characters favourite video games

So obviously this would be in an AU, so

Clementine doesn't seem like the gamer type, but she'd probably try out whatever Violet/Louis play, and help AJ figure things out occasionally.

AJ would play Smash Bros and Super Mario Series 100%. His favorite character is Yoshi and he gets mad when someone picks him.

Violet probably plays Sims and makes sure that the sim representing her is miserable asf. She changes tabs to YouTube when Louis walks in.

Louis loves every game ever... except for Mario Kart for "personal reasons". He has every musical tiles game on his phone.

Omar secretly plays cooking simulators but switches to overwatch when someone walks in.

Aasim plays GTA just to set civilians on fire.

Mitch plays GTA with Aasim with Willy, but is usually just telling Willy to blow up Aasim's car. He goes on Red Dead Online and buys way too much dynamite.

Marlon plays Pokemon and argues that it's still the best series out there. Sometimes he plays GTA with the guys.

Brody likes story games and almost always falls in love with the protagonist of the game.

Ruby doesn't have a favorite game and is actually employed unlike most of these guys.

Tennessee doesn't like consoles, but sometimes he sits with Violet or Minnie and makes them some Sims characters.

James never tells anyone, but when he goes home he plays Life is Strange. He tells everyone that he likes Legend of Zelda though.

Minerva is open about her Sims love and gets offended when Sophie tells her to get off and come eat dinner.

[animasola86]

Nebbia's Origin Story

You might have seen and/or read about my HL MC Nebbia DeLuca, who I kinda revived for my HL playthroughs. But this very OC has been in my brain and in several attempts at writing her story for almost a decade now.

She's also been a shotgun/blood magic wielding Templar in The Secret World/Secret World Legends, or a necromancer with a greatsword and a staff in Guild Wars 2, and a car collecting maniac world explorer in GTA Online. So having "just" a wand was quite the adjustment for her!

But enough about her alter egos, how did she come to be?

She's been in my brain ever since I came into contact with The Last of Us. That game had a serious impact on me and the stories whirling through my head. I've always been a storyteller, have written stories since an early age. I've created a lot of original characters, fleshed out, with detailed backstories, but I was never able to finish their respective stories.

The themes were always pretty similar: younger woman, older man, size difference, gruff but protective male, innocent but feisty female. Side characters were always of the jealous, dangerous kind. I've always loved taboos and kinks, and the above-mentioned dynamic is one of my favorites to write (and read) stories about.

So, inspired by Joel and Ellie's relationship, I wanted to create characters that were similar, but different. My main motive for writing was always: Something's missing in those stories, let's write it myself! It started with adding romance to a thriller, love to a murder mystery, or found family/forbidden feelings to otherwise "innocent" scenarios.

For example, I've written a story about a young woman falling in love with the married father of the kid she's supposed to babysit (I swear there's more to that story than the porn clichés, it ends up turning into a psychological drama about jealousy and domination, mental illness, murder, abduction, what's real, what's not kinda scenes; unfortunately I've never finished my first proper original work that's sitting on a USB-stick somewhere since 2011. One day I'll get to finish your story, Tasja, don't worry. You'll get your happy ending!).

And then, someday in the year 2017, I started writing a story (though the idea is much older) about a post-apocalyptic world, based on an island near my hometown. I've thrown ideas around and around, researching, visiting places, creating characters, always changing something, but the basic idea that stuck was this (I suck at summaries, btw, sorry!):

Twenty years ago, there was a black-out and society collapsed. The people on that island live in groups, as far away from each other as possible to avoid conflict, as they are all stuck there, with no way to leave the island.

Enter Nebbia, born after the End, who is a girl living in an all-female village run by a group of older women called the Elders, whose daughters (creatively named the Daughters) do all their "dirty work". Nebbia is classified as a Motherless, you guessed it, lives without a mother.

And the backstory of that, in short, is: her mother was pregnant when she was found by one of the Daughters and brought to the village, gave birth, and fled the place after she discovered their dark secret (because what's a post-apocalyptic community without a dark secret, eh?), but she left Nebbia there because she knew she would have a safe home in spite of it, that is until she turns 18, when things go really dark.

In short: there's a strange little celebration, all the girls of age are dressed in their best dresses, and then leave the village on their way to another village nearby that is run by the Men... and, uh, well, yeah, society collapsed, so they try to rebuild it, it's a breeding station, oops, you get the idea.

And that is when our male protagonist comes in: Ben, in his late thirties, a gruff, lonesome smuggler/outsider/person who doesn't have a village/group, but works between them. And he is hired by none other than Nebbia's mother, Kira, to get Nebbia and save her from the horrible fate of being bred helping society grow again.

But something happens (there's a mysterious fog that keeps the people from leaving the island, but never mind that, although that is why Nebbia is called Nebbia, because fog=nebbia in Italian, because her mother is half-Italian - also, hey, off-topic, but there's a fitness clothes store called Nebbia in the Slovak Republic, isn't that cool?) and Ben loses his memories, and when he sees Nebbia, he thinks she's Kira... and kinda falls for her, because, of course, him and her were sweethearts before the End (but they had a falling out, but he doesn't remember that yet).

And Nebbia is this innocent girl, who basically worked as a slave her whole life, can't read, can't swim, is treated very poorly, can't exist outside her village, really. (And to have such a character and let her explore the world and learn stuff and blossom would have been so interesting to write!)

So Ben saves kidnaps Nebbia from the village, and they try to find their way back to Kira... and somehow this is where my ideas froze. I wanted to show their journey through the post-apocalyptic world, how their life is, what they do to survive, who they meet, that he slowly regains his memories and realizes his feelings for this girl, and once they get to where they want to go, they find out that Kira is gone/dead/I don't know, something, aaaand their journey continues? I have no idea. I never came to those parts.

I've written so many versions of that story, in German to start with (because the island it's set on is a German island), then tried recreating it in English without the local color, but it never really worked. I didn't know where it would end.

But the characters remained inside my head, I've had so many scenarios for them because I loved their dynamic, but I've never written any of them because back then I thought I needed a full story, something with beginning and end, the whole deal. I've never written one-shots before, or even short stories. I was fixated on the whole "novel" thing, that was my goal, my dream.

But now, after having written sooo many one-shots for a fandom, just snippets of people's lives and what they do in the moment, I feel confident enough to tackle it. To create little short stories centered around those very characters: Ben and Nebbia.

I've also read so many original works on AO3 lately, and seeing how people just put their own ideas out there, for everyone to see, did something to me. I always wanted to keep my ideas to myself, because, maybe, someday, I'll finish a story and could send it to a publisher and one day have my own work in book-form, but honestly, it is such a daunting idea, when all I wanna do is tell stories.

And so now I will just tell stories. I've started by writing for these characters everyone knows and loves (and I'll keep writing Sebastian smut, don't worry!), but now it's time to branch out, give those people inside my head their story, or at least snippets of their lives, and share it with the world.

And as I write this, I am working on an AU of those characters, with a completely different setting, but the same dynamic: older man, younger woman, gruff/protective vs. innocent/feisty, love in dangerous environments. Of course, it's gonna have my usual smut elements, but also world building, side characters, character development, etc. and new things to research!

(Lemme throw in some words I learned that may give a hint to where the story is set: withers, spats, stirrup. As for the time, well, it's actually an era I've already written for, but the place is a lot more... west, way west.)

I feel very inspired, and I hope I can one day (hopefully very soon*) share their story with you.

(I've made a side blog @animasolaoriginal where I'll post it once it's done or I grow too impatient to wait! I'll also post moodboards and inspirations there - eventually! If you'd like to follow me there too, I'd very much appreciate it!)

Thank you for letting me get this out. These characters are very dear to me, and I hope, once I start uploading my original work, I might catch your interest with it, and you will start to like them too!

Edit: *I did it, I posted the first chapter! 🤠

[lordnot]

Anyway: the fact that there would be any discourse around whether one of the protagonists of GTA 6, a nonwhite, conventionally attractive, semi-realistic fictional woman, is trans

really hammers home how much of what we have been taught to associate with femininity is white normative.

Also, the idea that Rockstar Games, the company that

took its GTA3 Era games off of online storefronts to maximize sales on the $60 Definitive Trilogy they shit out

added literal playable casinos to GTA Online years after its release

and pretty much abandoned Red Dead Online as soon as it was clear it wasn't drawing GTA-Online-levels of revenue

would take such a financial risk as including a trans protagonist is laughable.

[gtamobile]

GTA 6: Next-Level Gaming or Just Another Sequel? Dive into the Hype!

The release of GTA 5 was nothing short of a gaming revolution, taking fans on an unforgettable rollercoaster ride through Los Santos. With the GTA series firmly planted at the pinnacle of gaming history, it’s no wonder that the buzz around GTA 6 is electric. The anticipation for this next installment is through the roof, making its release date one of the most sizzling topics in the gaming universe.

But hold onto your controllers, because here’s the latest and greatest rumor: GTA 6 might just be stepping into the realm of Virtual Reality! Yes, you heard that right. Imagine not just playing GTA, but actually stepping into its world, dodging traffic, pulling off heists, and living out those wild missions in full immersive glory. VR compatibility could be the ultimate game-changer, and with tech evolving faster than you can say “wanted level,” this might not be a far-off dream. Sony’s next PlayStation is set to support VR, and with games like Gran Turismo already onboard, Rockstar Games might have to dive headfirst into the VR wave to stay ahead of the game.

Now, let’s spill some more tea on what GTA 6 could bring to the table. Speculations are running wild. Will it be a mash-up of iconic elements from previous games with futuristic twists like teleportation between cities? Or will it stick to the tried-and-true formula that fans adore? Perhaps Rockstar will surprise us with a totally fresh and jaw-dropping experience. The possibilities are endless, and the suspense is real.

And what about the game’s setting? Whispers in the gaming community suggest we might see a shift from the classic American backdrop to exciting new locales like Japan or the United Kingdom. Just imagine cruising through Tokyo’s neon-lit streets or navigating the historic alleys of London. But the most talked-about rumor is the potential for a female protagonist to take the lead. While GTA V’s online mode lets players choose a female character, fans are hoping for a major role for a female lead in GTA 6. It’s about time we had a leading lady pulling off those epic heists, don’t you think?

In a nutshell, GTA 6 is shaping up to be a game for the ages. Whether it’s VR, new international settings, or a badass female protagonist, the excitement is off the charts. Keep your eyes peeled for more juicy details, and get ready to dive into what promises to be the most epic GTA adventure yet.

[sharmoota-job]

Have you made your art of your GTA Online character? I really want to see how your GTA Online character interact with the GTA V Protagonists.

AAAAAAAA!!!!! This is so so flattering but unfortunately I don't play GTAO 😭 Once I reinstate my Xbox Live someday I might give it a shot but I'm terrified of playing with other random people I don't know lol

So unfortunately I don't have a GTAO character but I do have these joke things I drew back in 2021 with one of my characters based on a dream I had though I hope that suffices for now

[asdear]

I feel like there are too many outfit combination possibilities for female characters when it comes to making feminine, masculine, or androgynous outfits. So I went onto my male character, Luca, to make androgynous outfits because I felt like dressing him in these types of outfits...

And holy shit, it's limited as hell.

Lowkey, too, I find some of the clothing items on male characters cooler. Like... SPIKED SNEAKERS? SHORT-SLEEVE SHIRTS WITH LONG-SLEEVE SHIRTS UNDERNEATH THEM? Why can't you give those to female characters, Cockstar? They look nice as fuck. 🥴

Anyway, I tried my best. These are some outfits I made based on real outfit ideas online.

A lot of the outfits I saw online weren't possible to make in the game. These were the ones that were possible + ones I liked so much that I kept them. 🙃

[jenniferdiazisatransgirl]

GTA VI Trailer/Taylor Swift Theory

Okay, so this may seem a bit random but as you maybe aware I am a Taylor Swift fan and I also love Grand Theft Auto.

Next month, the first long awaited trailer for GTA VI is going to be released and well I have a little theory.

So based on the leaked information about the game so far, there is a male and female protagonist and they have a Bonnie and Clyde type dynamic. Or at least that is how I have seen it painted when it has been reported on.

And you may ask how Taylor Swift ties into all of this?

Well as of late 2022, Taylor Swift can re-record Reputation and release Taylor’s Version. On Reputation is the track, “Getaway Car” which tells a Bonnie and Clyde style tale.

Back in 2020, “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” featured in a Match.com advert as a precursor to the Fearless (Taylor’s Version) album coming out the following April. If memory serves this was December 2020. I will concede I could be wrong there though.

I kinda have a theory that “Getaway Car (Taylor’s Version)” may serve as the track on the GTA VI trailer indicating Reputation (Taylor’s Version) being released around April 2024.

This is just a theory though, as to my knowledge there isn’t a confirmation that Reputation (Taylor’s Version) is the next album on the re-recording list. Although, to my knowledge there is only Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version) to go.

A few other reasons I like this theory is, that I have seen in various GTA forums people complaining “Getaway Car” isn’t in the soundtrack for GTA V. But considering GTA V was released in 2013 and Reputation in 2017. It wouldn’t make much sense for it to be in the soundtrack, especially the base game which is set in 2013 even if they could add it later in online content.

And then as well as this year being the 25 Anniversary of Rockstar Games. December is the month of Taylor Swift’s birth. Kinda a cool announcement window for both Rockstar and Taylor Swift.

I maybe way off, but I enjoy speculating.

NB: Before posting this. I just looked it up and there is a belief Taylor will announced Reputation (Taylor’s Version) at a concert tomorrow, 24/11/23. If you add up the individual single digit numbers, it makes 13 which is Taylor’s lucky number. Having “Getaway Car (Taylor’s Version)” as the trailer track for GTA VI though would still be a great precursor to the album coming out.

[adam-trademark]

SESH

(March 22, 2023)

[blasphemme]

just finished call of duty black ops. here are some (long, comma abusing, mostly tangentially related) thoughts after playing it for the first time for anyone who might read them!

altogether the campaign was fine, i guess.

as many others have in the past few years following the modern warfare remakes, my online activity has been inundated with thirst edits made of characters in call of duty — despite having never played the games myself. they’re not my thing.

my flatmate, however, has played them. he played them as a kid when they were being released, and he has had the misfortune of being on the receiving end of me watching these edits and reading fanfics (shout out early 351780!!). increasingly annoyed at my thirsting, he has forced me to play every call of duty campaign on the xbox 360.

i’ve found that i actually really enjoy playing cod. it’s enjoyable, action packed and, most importantly, quite compelling. they’re something i’d never have considered playing without him pushing me to play them. i’m more of an assassin’s creed/ace combat/nier girl and always have been. the closest i’d been to playing a shooter before this experience was playing gta, badly.

my flatmate knew my priorities. after an introduction to the premise with world at war — the first game in the black ops series, which i promise i will get to at some point — we played the original modern warfare campaigns first, because i am a wee bit in love with captain john price, and i loved them. the stories, while simple enough to follow (and already knowing about the main character deaths in advance — it’s a 10+ year old series, after all!), were emotionally evocative. i found myself becoming attached to the protagonists quickly and deeply, all the while having a whale of a time fucking around in the rest of the mission. this girl loves just walking onto grenades! between world at war and the modern warfare trilogy of campaigns, i was hooked from the start.

i realise now that i have been spoiled. those campaigns were just too good.

black ops’ campaign pales in comparison to the other four games i’ve played. i will admit that it is still fun — very fun! i enjoyed the feeling of progressing from one badass area to the next, with sam worthington’s horrific american accent and gary oldman’s alright russian accent pushing me through. i also have to admit that i still play like an absolute scrub, but the enjoyment i got from it outweighed the frustration. (mostly.)

black ops lacks the charm and depth i loved in world at war. while fun, every plot twist was spotted as soon as it was hinted to, much to my flatmate’s dismay. it took one guy telling mason to get a hold of himself for me to figure out the twist around reznov, and one recitation of the numbers on the way to the pentagon for me to figure out that mason would go on to kill kennedy. this, in particular, also felt like a bit of a cop-out — having this confirmed in a post-credits scene was disappointing, when i’d gone through the whole game and sat through an eminem song in the credits expecting a sequence where i’d be on the grassy knoll just to end up in a round of zombies. honk shoo.

modern warfare — modern warfare 2 in particular (kevin mckidd’s soap my beloved <3) — introduced new mechanics that’d be used once or twice in the whole game, most of which i enjoyed. the missions where you have to assist tf141 from an ac130 in the first game? stellar. absolutely unmatched. all ghillied up can go fuck itself on a gameplay front though, fuck you if you think i’m gonna figure out what the coriolis effect is. in black ops, the helicopter sequences felt like hate crimes against me personally. poorly designed flight controls and awful combat mechanics combined to make a literally unplayable pair of missions involving attacking other helicopters that i had to beg my flatmate to complete for me. embarrassing.

this game is utterly us army propaganda. the epic final shot in the campaign after killing dragovich — where suddenly 3 aircraft carriers are there waiting for you flying star spangled banners, and 8 fighter jets pass overhead — only resulted in making me cringe and laugh in disbelief, where in 2010 it would’ve made young men enlist. world at war at least has the balance of ‘war is cool and we’re the best’ in the pacific segments and ‘war sucks, actually,’ in the eastern front segments. modern warfare, too, falls face first into the latter, and that’s part of what i enjoyed about it.

even the little fun things weren’t as enjoyable. i didn’t have a favourite gun, or a favourite mission. the star cast choices were okay, but nothing to call home about. there wasn’t a ‘production babies’ segment in the credits, and they made me listen to eminem and pink. what the fuck?

altogether, black ops 1 has the worst campaign of the franchise i’ve played so far. next we’re onto black ops 2, which hopefully won’t come with a free personal statement like this one, and which i’ve been told is one of the best games ever made. we’ll see.

3/10